Surgical device



NGV. 29, 1938., s, COPEN 2,138,626

SURGICAL DEVICE Filed June 17, 1938 Zuventor S3 Irving Cope n www ' 1,-, complete cover.

Patented Nov. 29, 1938 UNITED STATES F AIT E 'r OFFICE 2 Claims.

The present invention relates to a protective device for medical and surgical use. It may be used as a protective cover for a single digit, either` to prevent the spread of infection from an in- 5 fected portion, or as a means of guarding against infection. In the latter use it is particularly useful for surgeons and dentists to guard against 4infection in all kinds of operations, particularly where the protective device must interfere as little as possible with the work to be performed.

Surgical gloves lare commonly used by surgeons and dentists for all kinds of operations. Gloves of this nature must be of sufiicient durability so that the fingers will hang together and furnish a On account of this the rubber used must comparatively have considerable thickness and therefore presents some impediment in the free use of the fingers and also hinders the touch or feel that is obtained when no gloves are used.

While the present device may be used individually on the fingers that come in to-uch with the parts on which no immediate contact is desired, the invention may also be incorporated in o a surgical glove although primarily it is used for individual fingers, and while providing sufficient protection allow comparatively free working of the digits.

The present invention will be more fully de- 0 scribed in connection with the specification set forth below and the drawing illustrating the substantial embodiments of the invention.

In the drawing:-

Figure 1 shows one form of the invention.

Figure 2 shows a modification of the invention in another form.

Figure 3 shows the modification of Figure 2 stiffness in itself, but on the other hand is flexibleand yielding in the same manner as pure para rubber. Other materials may be used, but they must conform to the specifications above with respect to extensibility, elasticity, flexibility and the yielding qualities as is common with pure thin para rubber. The finger may be 'made in varying sizes and shapes to conform to the different digits and fit uniformly and snugly without exerting a greater tension on the material than it can reasonably stand. The body portion I is preferably uniform. in thickness and give or stretch throughout, and at its open end may be pro' vided with a semi-stiff band 4 of rubber or other material, tending to give shape to the body portion I and protect the thin rubber edge from tearmg.

At a distance in from the open end, which may be one half to one quarter from the end,-there is mounted a rubber band 2 which is attached or cemented to the body portion I, only at one spot, as at 3, which is an enlarged section of the band 2. The band normally is of such size that for the body on which it is used, it will cause a drawing in of the body of the finger, as indicated in Figure l, and further draw the rubber tightly around the digit, effectively sealing it. Other methods of attaching the band may be used such as by putting the band through a loop cemented to the rubber wall, but I prefer to attach it directly as described.

Normally the rubber band 2 hangs loosely on one side of the rubber body as indicated by the drawing shown in Figure 6 and is slipped over the top after the finger is put in place as shown in Figure 1.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 2, the band 2 is indicated as cemented by rubber cement 5 to the finger itself. In Figure 4 the finger Ill is provided with a broad band I I which may be cemented in one spotas indicated by I2.

In Figure 5 there is shown a narrow band I3 which is held to the finger Il in the enlarged section I5. Thisenlarged section distinguishes from that of Figure 1, in that it is enlarged substantially only on one side of theband so that the band will hang more readily on one side of the finger in its normal unused position.

In the arrangement shown, the sealing means is obtained wholly by the band described and not by the collar 4 at the open end of the finger. Figure 3 shows the modification of Figure 2 with the band 2 hanging on one side of the finger, being cemented in position by cement as indicated at 5.

The band may be of most any desired shape and may be colored differently from the body itself. Its cross section as indicated miay be rectangular, square, or it may be round; but in whatever form the band may be used it must be such that when put over the finger it will tend to draw the rubber of the nger closely to the digit on which it Ais placed.

Various modoations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, and also various conditions and other uses for the device.

One distinct advantage of the present device is that after the band is put in place, the rubber is held so tightly that it will not slip off. The band,

being free from the body except for its single spot attachment, may be looped either once or twice in position as desired to obtain the right pressure.

Having now described my invention, I claim:-

1. A protective device for medical and surgical purposes, comprising a nger-like element composed of extensible, yielding, exible rubber, subf stantially of paper thickness and having an. elastic alsace@ i band with an enlarged portion at one point thereof, means attaching said band at said enlarged portion :toL 'said Vinger--like element, said band being ofifanormal unstretched diameter smaller than the diameter of the nger at the point where it isA attached.

B1. mVING COPEN. 

